Apparatus for handling mine-cars.



PATENTED JULY 25, M04.

W. J. PATTBESN. APPARATUS POR HANDLING MINE GARS.

4 SH BETE-SHEET l PATBNTBD JULY 26, 1904.

W. J. PATTERSON. APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MINE CARS.

APPLICATION FILED HAB. 28, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

nuaufoz autohuur.;

PATENTED JULY 26, 1904.

W. J. PATTERSON. APPARATUS POR HANDLING MINE GARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 36, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHBET 3.

N0 MODEL.

...rl/vill PATENTED JULY 26, 1904.

W. J. PATTERSON.

APPARATUS POR HANDLING MINI'. GARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26. 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented July 26, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLiNG MINE-CARS.

(SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 765,902, dated July26, 1904.

Application filed March 26. 1904. Serial No. 2U0,210. (No model.)

vented a new and useful Improvement in Ap-V paratus for HandlingMine-Cars; and I do hereby declare the following' to be a full, clear,and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to apparatus for handling mine-cars, its objectbeing to provide for the quick handling and discharge of loaded cars aswell as the returning' of the empty cars to the point where they arereloaded.

M v invention therefore comprises the novel features hereinafter fullyset forth and claimed.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use myinvention, I willdescribe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, inwhich4v Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is aside view thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of a portion of theapparatus, showing the pusher-carriage for advancing the empty cars ontothe elevator and the mechanism for operating the same. Fig. 4 is an endview. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the driving mechanism and the differentconnections therefrom for operating the apparatus. Fig. 6 is a plan viewof the pusher-carriage and the safety-stop for checking the too rapidmovement of the car in advancing onto the elevator. Fig. 7 is asectional detail view of the clutch shown in Fig. 5 for throwing thcmechanism into and out of operation for driving the cndless'chain. Fig.8 is an enlarged cross-section on line 8 8, Fig. 6; and Fig. 9 is anenlarged detail view of the frictional railoperating mechanism.

In the drawings the numeral 2 represents an elevated structure of propersize and dimensions for supporting my improved apparatus, and saidstructure may be varied according to the conditions and requirements ofdifferent plants. As my invention is used in connection with verticalmine-shafts, the numerals 3 and 4 designate suitable shafts throughwhich the cars are raised and lowered into the mine, said shafts beingprovided with any suitable form of elevator or lift L1" for 'raising andlowering the cars to and from the mine. This elevator 4 has a platformwith a section of track laid thereon adapted to support the mine-car.(Shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.) The structure Q is further providedwith tipples 5 and 6, where the loaded cars may be dumped; but as anysuitable form of tipple or dumping apparatus may be employed and thesame forms no part of my present invention it has not been deemednecessary to illustrate the same further than in the dia grammatie formof Fig. 1.

At the rear of the structure 2 is the kickback 7, upon which the track 9is laid, said track extending forward to a suitable point, where itbranches oif into the track 10, said track extending to and being inalinement with the track on the elevator-platform and extending stillfarther forward, where it curves at 11 and unites with the track 12 onthe kickback 8 at the forward end of the structure. Branching oif fromthe track 9 is the track 13, which operates in connection with the shaft3, said track extending forward and connecting' with the track 12. Areturn-track 14 connects with the track 12, said track 14 leading to theinclined track 15.

Within the track 15 is the endless chain 16, mounted on the sprockets 17and 18, supported within the frame. This chain 16 passes through asuitable guide 19,'above which the projections 21 extend, saidprojections being adapted to engage with the car, axle, or otherprojection and carry the same up the inclined track 15. Idle rollers 20are employed to support the chain 16 at proper intervals.

Mounted on the shaft 22, upon which the sprocket-wheel 18 is mounted. isthe large sprocket-wheel Q2, over which the sprocketchain 23 passes,said sprocket-chain passing' over the sprocket-wheel 24 on the shaft 25,mounted in suitable bearings- 26. Upon the shaft 25 is a largegear-wheel 27, which meshes with the small gear-wheel 28 on the shaft29. This shaft 29 is mounted in suitable bearings, and at the outer endof said shaft is the pulley 30, driven by the belt 31 from a suitableengine.

ounted on the shaft 29 is the clutch 32, said clutch, as indicated inFig. 7, being composed of the disks 33 and 34, secured to the shaft 29,said disks being connected by the bolts A toggle connection 36 connectssaid disks with the sliding sleeve 37 on the shaft 29. Interposedbetween the disks and 34 is the friction -disk 38, having the woodenfriction-blocks 39, said friction-disk 38 being loosely mounted on theshaft 29. Connected with the friction-disk 38 by means of the sleeve 39is the small pinion 28. A lever 40 is connected to the sliding sleeve37, said lever being pivoted at 41, so that by the movement of saidlever the toggle is operated to force the disks 33 and 34 into contactwith the friction-disk 38, so as to cause the rota-- tion of same,together with the pinion 28. The outer end of the lever 40 is connectedto the rod 42, which in turnvis connected to the crank 43 on the shaft44. Secured to the shaft 44 is the oscillating bar 45, to the outer endsof which are secured the rods 46 46'. To the upper end of these verticalrods 46 46' are secured the foot-rests 47 47, by means of which saidrods are depressed.

Mounted on the shaft 29 are the frictionwheels 48 49, adapted to bearagainst the faces ofthe friction-wheels 5() 51, respectively. The largefriction-wheels 5() and 51 are mounted on the shafts 52, said shaftshaving at one end the sliding bearings Mounted on the shafts 52 are thepinions 54, meshing with the large gear-wheels 55 upon the shafts 56. Onthe shafts 56 are the drums 57. These parts are in duplicate in order toprovide for the operation of the mechanism for each shaft.

Connected to the sliding journals 53 are the levers 58, extending up toa suitable point in the platform above, where they may be operated bythe handles 59. By the operation of these levers the largefriction-wheels 50 and 51 may be moved into contact with theircorresponding smaller friction-wheels 48 and 49. Cables or belts 60 passaround the pulleys 57 and thence in both directions over the drums 61,where said cables are connected to the front and rear ends of thepusher-carriage 62. This pusher-carriage is provided with the wheels 63,adapted to run on the track 64. Pivoted to the carriage 62 is the pusher65, which normally extends up in position to engage the mine-car andpush the same forward. The pusher, however, is pivoted at 66, so thatthe said pusher will be depressed when the car passes over the same.

Just in advance of the pusher-carriage 62 is the car-checking device 67,which comprises the rails 68, with the curved ends 69, said rails beingconnected to the bars 70, pivoted at 70,

whereby said rails are capable of being moved longitudinally in themanner fully hereinafter set forth. Connected to the pivotal bars arethe weighted levers 71, provided with the weights 72, said levers beingadapted to return said rails 68 to their normal position. The movementof the lever 71 is regulated by the stops 73 and the guide 74, withinwhich the outer end of said lever works.

Connected to the pusher-carriage 62 is the cable 75, to which the weight76 is secured, said cable passing over the pulley 77. This weight isadapted to return the pusher-carriage 62 to its rearmost position.

When my improved apparatus is in operation, the loaded cars are lifted,by means of the elevator, up through the shafts 3 and 4 into position tobe moved from the tracks of the elevator onto the tracks 9, to becarried to the dumping-tipple. As shown in Fig. 1, the car-shaft 4 is insuch position, and said car is then advanced along the track 10 of thetipple 5, where said car is dumped, and is then advanced forward alongthe curved track 11 to the track l2 on the kick-back 8, The empty carpasses up said kick-back 8, and then descends the same, whence it isshifted otf onto the curved track 14 to the inclined track 15. When thecar passes onto the inclined track 15, it is carried up said track bymeans of the endless chain 16, one of the projections 21 of said chainengaging the car. When the car has been carried up to the top of theincline, it descends from the same and passes to track 9 and up thekick-back 7. It then descends from said kick-back and is switched offonto the track 10. The impetus which said empty car has acquired carriesit forward, and in order to check its movement and prevent it fromdropping into the open shaft 4 in case the elevator of said shaft islowered the wheels of said car engage the longitudinal movable rails 68,their inner faces being in frictonal contact with said rails, wherebythe speed of the car is checked and the car stopped. The flanges of thewheels will run between the rails of the track and the rails of thechecking device, and in order to advance said empty car onto theplatform 4a of the elevator when the same is up in position to receivethe car the operator operates the proper lever 59, so as to throw thefriction-wheel 50 into contact with the friction-wheel 48, whereu ponthrough the shaft 52 and the pinion 54 and gear-wheel 55 power istransmitted to the shaft 56. This will act to rotate the drum 57 andWind the cable 60 thereon in such a manner as to advance the pushercarriage 62, so that the pusher engages the emptycar and advances thesame onto the platform of the elevator. At the same time the loaded caris pushed by the empty car onto the track 10. As soon as the car hasbeen driven onto the elevator the lever 59 is moved in the oppositedirection, whereupon the friction-Wheel 50 is thrown out of contact withthe friction-Weel 48 and the drum 57 ceases to rotate in that direction.The weight 76 on cable 75 withdraws the car- IIO IIS

riage 62 to its normal position, while at the same time the weightedlever 71, which has been raised by the forward movement of the rails 68,resumes its normal position and carries the rails 68 back to theiroriginal position. The empty car is then lowered and a loaded car at thesame time is raised in shaft 3 and after beingadvanced to thedumpingtipple passes onto the kick-back 8 and returns in the same manneras above described to the kick-back 7, whence it passes to the similarapparatus as that just above described in connection with shaft 4,whereupon the empty ear is held in check until the platform of theelevator is in position to receive the same,when it is advanced onto theelevator in the manner before described.

In case it is desired to stop the movement of the endless chain 16 forany reason, as in case where the empty cars are becoming congested atthe rear end of the apparatus, the operator by putting his foot on oneof the foot-rests 47' acts through the connections described to operatethe lever 40, so as to throw the clutch in-such position as to renderthe pinion 28 inoperative, whereupon the power transmitted through saidpinion to the large gear-wheel 27 and thence to the large sprocket-wheel22 is shut off.

1. In apparatus for handling mine-cars, the combination with an elevatedstructure and a shaft therein, of an elevator in said shaft, a track inproper position with reference to said elevator, a carriage adapted totravel to and from said elevator. a yielding pusher on said carriage inthe path of said ear, a mechanism for moving said carriage.

2. In apparatus for handling mine-cars, the combination with an elevatedstructure and a shaft therein, of an elevator in said shaft, a track inproper position with reference to said elevator, a carriage adapted totravel to and from said elevator, a downwardlyyielding pusher on saidcarriage in the path of said ear, and mechanism for moving saidcarriage.

3. 1n apparatus for handling mine-cars, the combination with an elevatedstructure and a shaft therein, of an elevator in said shaft, a

track in proper position with reference to said l elevator, a carriageadapted to travel to and from said elevator, a pivoted pusher on saidcarriage in the path of said car, and mechanism for moving saidcarriage.

4. 1n apparatus for handling mine-cars, the combination with an elevatedstructure and a shaft therein, of an elevator in said shaft, a track inproper position with reference to said elevator, a pusher-carriage inthe path of the car, a cable connected to thc front and rear ends ofsaid carriage, a drum around which said cable passes, and means forrotating said drum.

5. In apparatus for handling mine-cars, the

combination with an elevated structure and a shaft therein, of anelevator in said shaft, a track in proper position with reference tosaid elevator, a pnsherfcarriage in the path of the car, a cableconnected to the front and rear ends of said carriage, a drum aroundwhich said cable passes, a friction-clutch, and connections between saiddrum and said frictionclutch.

6. In apparatus for handling mine-cars, the combination with an elevatedstructure and a shaft therein, of an elevator in said shaft, a track inproper position with reference to said elevator, a pusher-carriage inthe path of the car, a cable connected to the front and rear ends ofsaid carriage, a drum around which said cable passes, a power-drivenshaft, a friction-wheel on said shaft, a shaft, a movable i bearing inwhich said shaft is mounted, a friction-wheel on said shaft, means forthrowing said friction-wheel into contact with said firstnamedfriction-wheel, and connections between said shaft and said drum.

7. In apparatus for handling mine-cars, the combination with an elevatedstructure and a shaft therein, of an elevator in said shaft, a track inproper position with reference to said elevator, a pusher-carriage inthe path of the car, a cable connected to the front and rear ends ofsaid carriage, a drum around which said cable passes, a lever connectedto said movable bearing, and connections between said shaft and saiddrum.

8. ln apparatus for handling mine-cars, the combination with an elevatedstructure and a shaft therein, of an elevator in said shaft, a track inproper position with reference to said elevator, and frictional meansfor checking the movement of the car adjacent to said elevator.

9. ln apparatus for handling mine-cars, the combination with an elevatedstructure and a shaft therein, of an elevator in said shaft, a track inproper position with reference to said elevator, and alongitudinally-movable rail in close proximity to the track-rail adaptedto contact with the inner faces of the wheels of said car.

10. In apparatus for handling mine-cars, the combination with anelevated structure and a shaft therein, of an elevator in said shaft, atrack in proper position with reference to said elevator, and alongitudinally-movable rail in close proximity to the track-rail adaptedto contact with the inner face of the wheels of said car, the end ofsaid rail turning inwardly.

11. In apparatus for handling minecars,the combination with an elevatedstructure and a shaft therein, of an elevator in said shaft, a track inproper position with reference to said elevator, longitudinally-movablepivoted rail within said track in close proximity to the rail of saidtrack, adapted to contact with the inner faces of the wheels of saidcar.

1Q; 1n apparatus for` handling minecars,the

IOO

IIO

combination of an elevator in said shaft, a l track in proper positionwith reference to said elevator, a rail parallel with the trackrail andin close proximity thereto adapted to Contact with the inner faces ofthe wheels of Said car, a bar secured to said rail and pivoted to asuitable support.

13. In apparatus for handling mineears,the combination with an elevatedstructure and a shaft therein, of an elevatorl in said shaft, a track inproper position with reference to said elevator, a longitudinallymovablepivoted rail within said track in close proximity to the track-railadapted to Contact with the inner faces` of the wheels of said car, andmeans for returning said rail to its normal position.

14. In apparatus for handling mine-cars, the combination with anelevated structure and a shaft therein, of an elevator in said shaft, atrack in proper position with reference to said elevator, alongitudinally movable pivoted rail within said track in close proximityto the track-rail adapted to contact with the inner faces of the wheelsof said car, and a weighted lever connected to said rail and adapted toreturn same to normal position.

15. In apparatus for handling minecars,the combination with an elevatedstructure and a l shaft therein, of an elevator in said shaft, a trackleading from said shaft to the point of discharge, a return-trackconnected with said first-named track and leading to the opposite sideof said shaft, mechanism for propelling Said car over said return-track,and mechanism for advancing the car from said lastnamed track onto saidelevator.

16. In apparatus for handling mine-cars,the combination with an elevatedstructure and a shaft therein, of an elevator in said shaft, a trackleading from said shaft to the point of discharge, a return-trackconnected with said first-named track, mechanism for propelling said carover said return-track to the opposite side of said shaft, and forcontrolling the movement of the car thereon, a track connected with saidreturn-track leading to the opposite side of said shaft, and mechanismfor advancing the car from said last-named track onto said elevator.

In testimonyY whereof I, the said WIILLIAM J. PATTERSON, have hereuntoset my hand.

IILLIAM J. PATTERSON.

Writnesses:

Roena'r (l. ToTTEN, KREMER.

